Power reverse-gear.



S H. LEWIS.

POWER REVERSE GEAR. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18,-i9l5.

Patented Jan. 8,1918;

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Patented Jan 8, 19181 S. H. LEWIS. "POWER REVERSE GEA'R. APPLICATIONHLED OCT. [8. I915.

Nh N To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia,have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power Reverse-Gears, of which the following is a specifica tion. a

My invention relates to improvements in fluid pressure operatedapparatus for operating or shiftin the valve gear of steam engines,particu arly railway locomotives, while not necessarily restricted tothis use.

An important object of this invention is to simplyify apparatus of theabove men tioned character, and particularly to obviate the necessity ofproviding positive locking means to revent undesired movement the pistonin the power cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to 'provide means to prevent wasteof fluid pressure at the exhaust port of the operat ing valve.

A 'further object of the invention is to provide means forresistingundesired m0vement of the piston in the power cylinder byopposing such undesired movement with an increase of pressure on theside of the piston in the direction in which it starts to inove and adecrease of pressure on the opposite side of the piston.

Other ob'ects and advantages of the invention will be apparent durlngthe course of the. following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like, numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 "1s, a side fievation of apparatus embo ing my inven on,showing the same up ie to a railway locomotive, 2 is a' detail sideelevation of a pivot oint,

-3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is an. d elevation of theapparatus Fig. 5 is a central verticallongitudinal sectional view through the power cylinder,

embodied'in the apparatus,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken online 6---6ofFig.5,

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the inner side of the apparatus,

Specification of Letters Patent.

F 3 is a detail sectional view taken on UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE.

SAMUEL H. LEWIS, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

POWER REVERSE-GEAR.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application filed October 18, 1915. Serial No. 66,487.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the valve casl ig. 9 is a sectional viewtaken on line 99 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9,

' {fig 11 is an elevation of a rotatable valve, an

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of ports formed in the valve casing.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose oi illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention the. numeral 10 designates theboiler of a railway locomotive, equipped with the cab 11, as iscustomary. The numeral 12 designates a preferably horizontally arrangedpower cylinder, preferably disposed beneath the boiler 10 forwardly ofand near the cab 11, while'the cylinder may be attached to any othersuitable ofithe locomotive. ibis c linder is rlgi y sebured to'theboiler 10 y any suitable means.

As more clearly shown" in Fig. 5, a piston 13 is disposed to reciprocateWithin the cylinder 12, and is rigldly/fionneoted with a preferablytubular piston rod 14, the rear end of which has screw-threadedengagement with aplug 14, as shown.

As clearl shown in Fig. 5, this piston rod prefera ly but notnecessarily has portions 15 and 16, of difierent diameters, the portion15 having the smaller diameter.

he forward reduced portion 15 of this.

piston rod operates througlh a forward stuffing box 17, carried by a sad18, while the rear lar eportion 16 of the piston rod operates t rough arear stufiing box 19, carried by a head 20. The function of .havin 'theportions 15 and 16 of the piston rod 0 The piston 13 is provided uponits pe? riphery and at a point equidistantly spaced from its ends withan annular groove 21',

receiving an inner metallic packing ring 22 and outer' acking rings '23preferably formed of 'l 'iibber or the like. Upon its periphery and atits'ends, the piston. 18 1s rovided with annular grooves 24, receivinginterfitting metallic rings 25', L-shaped in cross-section, as shown. Ihave found that this combination of packing rings prevents the leakageof pressure between the piston and the cylinder 12, in a highlysatisfactor manner.

The tbrward end of the rod 14, is pivotally connected, as shown at 26,with a pit man or link 27, pivotally connected, as shown at 28, with avertical crank or arm 29, rigidl mounted upon a transverse lift or rockshaft 30. Each endof the lift or rock shaft 30 has a. horizontal arm 31,rigidly connected therewith, which is connected with the verticallymovable link (not shown) of the valve gear. It is to be understood thatthe invention is in no sense. restrieted to operating any particulartype of valve gear as it is adapted for use. in connection with varioustypes.

Rigidly connected with the forward end of the piston rod 14 is :1depending arn: or crank 32, having its lower end pivotally connectedwith a link 33, pivotally connected with the lower end of a pretl rablyvertically swinging lever Bl. 'lhe \Iertically swinging lever 34 (seeFigs. and 3). isarovided between its ends with zh longitu inal opening35, receiving a flat lug or extension 36, formed integral with a pivotelement or bolt 37. This pivot element or bolt is rotatably mounted in.an opening- 38 extending transversely through the end of a bracket 39.The flat lug or extension is provided with a screw-threaded longitudinalopening 40, receiving an adjusting screw 41. The opening 35 is longerthan the lug, 36, and the adjusting screw 4.1 engages the end walls ofthis opening. It is obvious that by turning the adjustin screw 41 itwill. be shifted longitudinally with respect. to the lug 3G and willhold thewlever 3i at a different position with respect thereto, wherebythe pivot point of this lever may be adjusted up and down. Formed uponthe In receiving anut 43, haying a washer 4-}, preferably interposedbetween the nut and the lever 34. The function of adjusting the pivot ofthe lever 34 is'to regulate the operation of the piston with respect toreturning the eontrolllng valve to the neutral position.

Pivotally connected with the upper end of the lever 34:, as shown at 45,is a. preferably longitudinally adjustable or extensible reach rod46, asshown.

The numeral 47 designates a valve structure as a whole, comprising acasing or casting 48, having a Hat face 49 and rovided with an inletport 50, communicating with a pipe 51, which leads to asonree of pressure, such as a compressed air storage tank (not shown). This inlet portcommunicates with an inlet port 52, passing throp'gh an 36 is a screwthreaded. extension 42,

annular flange 58, formed upon the casing 51, as shown. Arranged uponopposite sides of the inlet port are pairs of ports 54, 55; 56, 57,which lead into pipes 58 and 59, discharging into the opposite ends ofthe cylinder 1.2. The pairs of ports 54 and 55 have their upper endsdischarging into a pair of non-con'nnunieatingspaced segmental surfaceports 0 and 61 res| ectively; while the pairs of pets 56 and 57 havetheir upper ends leading into noncommunieating segmental surface ports(52 and 63 respectively. Each pair of ports at, 55 or so, 57 lead into achauilmr 53, as shown. At its lower end, the. chamber 53 hasscrewthreaded engagiunent with a tube 5+, extending upwardly therein, asshown. The upper end of this tube serves as a guide for a check ballvalve, normally closing the end of the port (:5 or 57, and this ballvalve is normally held seated by a spring 56 as shown. The tube H hasaperlures 58, arranged beneath the ball valve. The tube :i-l isinternally screw-threeded to receive nlH. ol the pipes, leading to thepower cylimlrr. The numeral. til designates an exhaust port, arrangedcentrally with respect to the segmental surface ports, as shown.

Mounted to rotate within the flange in slidahle ronlact with the face 49is a valve on, hai'ingits inner side provided with a. sur faeeigrmfe orport (30, the. inner end of which is 1!] permanent rgistration with theexhaust port (H \\'liilc. --i'ls outer end is adapt ed to he alternatelymoved'into registration with the segmental ports (30 and 62. The. valve(35 is provided in its lower portion with a transverse port. or opening67, ar- .rang l. between the segmental grooves 61 and n;5.-:ind when thevalve 65 is in the normal position the opening 67 preferably has itsends arranged in line ioline relation with and a head (it), which closesthis chamber.

The pressure from the port 50 is thus clrculated upon the top of thevalve 65, and serves to retain it securely seated.

ill)

The valve (15 is provided with a post 69',

for turning it, which post is rectangular in cross-section and. adaptedto fit within an opening 7 ().Iforn1ed in a head 71 of a stud .72.rigidly connected with a. pinion 73. The 'head 71 is adapted to contactwith a washer 74, and a. compressible, coil spring 75 is arrangedbetween the post 69' and the end wall of the opening 70, thus serving tohold-the valve upon its seat and. the head 71 in. con-' tact with thering or washer 74 for preventing leakage.

The head 69 is provided with a flange 70,

' bination lever extends upwardly for pivotal E at slightly larf;.piston 13, a

connection with a controlling lever 84:, b means of'a pin 85 or thelike. This contro' ling) lever carries the-ring 77, which is -pretera lyformed .integral therewith and pivotally mounted upon the flange 53. Ridly connected with the upper portion 0 the combination lever 83, bymeans of bolts 86 or the like, is a toothedsegment or gear 87, en agingthe pinion 73, for turning it.

he control lever 84 operates in proximity to a stationarytoothed'quadrant 88, rigidly secured to the upper ends of stationaryarms 89 formed integral with the casing l8. The lever 84is provided withlatch means 90, to cooperate with the toothed uadrant to lock the leverin adjustment at tie desired position. The operation lows:

When the control lever 84 is in the normal or neutral position, therotary valve is in the normal or neutral position, whereby the endsofithe admission port 67' are arranged substantially in line to linerelation with the inner or lower ends of the surface ports 61 and 63.There is then a passage of fluid ,pressure from the port 67 into thelower segmental ports 61 and 63, which pressure is conducted throu h thepipes 58 and 59 to the opposite en s of the outer cylinder 12, uponopposite sides of the piston 13, thus equalizing the pressure "upon suchopposite sides and tending to hold the piston against movement. Biaving'the portion 15-of the rod 14 of smal er diameter than the portion16, this equalpres'sure will oplerate upon a er surface, u on t e sideof the jac'ent the 're uced portion 15 of the'rod 14, and this increasedsurfaee is sufli cient tqvovercome the tendency that the elements of thevalve gear have to move downwardly by gravity. While .the pressure .isthus calpable' of being constantly supplied into the opposite ends ofthe cylinder 12, by

virtue'pf theline to line position of the ends of theport 6'7 with theends of the port 63,

the pressure within the opposite ends of the cylinder 12 cannotcirculate in a reverse di- ,rection, through the pipes 58 and 59, to thesource of pressure, as the upwardly seating valves 55 close the ends ofthe ports 55,

of the apparatus idah fol-' while the ports 60 and 62 which are exhaustports, are closed, when the valve 65 is in the neutral position. It isthus apparent that pressure, which passes into the op osite ends of thecylinder 12, is entrapped t erein and any perceptible improper movementof the piston, will rapidly increase ressure, thus serving topositively. hold t 9 piston 13 against any extensive improper movement.For illustration, if the iston 13 should move from its adjustedposition, with a pressure of one hundred pounds er square inch on itsopposite sides, for t e d stance of three-sixteenth of an inch, therewill be de veloped a resistance of approximately one hundred and fiftypounds to further undesired travel of the iston, due tothe compressionand expansion of the fluid pressure on its op'osite sides, thusrendering it im possible or the piston to move to any con-' siderableextent or sufficiently to cause perceptible operation of the parts ofthe apparatus.

hen it is desired to shift the valve gear to drive the locomotiveforwardl the con trol lever 80 is swung forward y. When this is done,the upper end of the combination lever 83 is swung forwardly, carryingwith it the segmental gear 87, whereby the pinion '73 is carriedclockwise. This clock wise movement of the pinion 73 turns the valve 65clockwise, whereb the upper end of the port 66 is moved intoregistration with lei segmental groove 62 and the port 67 is w red i toregistration with the port 61. It is thu apparent that pressure willpass through pipe 51, port 52, chamber 68, port 67, port 61, port 55,pipe--58, into the left. end of the cy inder 12, while ressure willexhaust from the opposite en of the cylinder through pipe 59, port 54,port 62,

ort 56, and port (i l, to the atmosphere.

he piston 13 is then moved forwardly whereby the rod" 14 and associatedelements operate the valve Igear to drive the Incometive forwardly, ponthis forward move ment of the rod 14, the depending. arm 32 is movedforwardly swinging the lower end of the lever 34 forwardly and its upperend rearwardly. The rearward movement of the upper end of the lever 34:is transmitted to the reach rod 46, and by it to the combination lever83. The lever 84 being locked in the new position by the latch means 90,the combination lever 83 will turn upon the in 85 as a pivot and whenits lower en is swung rearwartily the segmental gear 87 is swung rearwarwhere y it turns the pin; ion 72 counter-clockwise, returningthe valve65 to the neutral position. When the valve 65.is returnedto its neutralposition, the pressure equalizes upon opposite sides of the piston 13.By this means the extent of movement of the piston in either directionis always proportional to the movement of the control lever in the samedirection. When the control lever 84 is swung rearwardly the reverse ofthis operation takes place as is thought to be obvious from theforegoing description.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious chan es in the shape, size, and arrangement 0 parts may beresorted-to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoinecl claims.

l-Iaving thus described the invention, what I claim is:

'1. in apparatus of the character described: a cylinder; a pistonmounted to move within the cylinder; a valve ear op erated by themovement of the piston; a valve seat having two separate surface supplyports and two separate surface exhaust )orts arran ed about an exhaustOJGlllIl which communicates with the atmosphere; chambers having portsleading to surface supply ports and ports leadin o the surface exhaustports; a movable valve having a surface port in permanent communicationwith the exhaust openihg of the valve seat and adapted to be alternatelymoved into communication with the exhaust surface ports and a pressuresupply port .normally in line to line relation with the surface supply)orts to permit of the. simul taneous suppy of pressure through bothsurface supply ports-and to be moved in one direction 'for covering onesurface supply port and opening the other surface supply port; pipeshaving communication with the chambers and with the opposite ends of thecylinder; and means to supply pressure to the pressure supply port ofthe movable valve.

.5. In apparatus of the character described; a cylinder; a pistonmounted. to move within the cylinder; a valve gear operated by themovement of the piston; a valve seat having two separate surfacesupplyports and two separate surface exhaust ports arranged about anexhaust opening which communicates with the atmosphere; chambers havingorts leading-to the surface supply ports an ports leading to the surfaceexhaust ports; a movable valve having a surface port in permanentcommunication with the exhaust opening of the valve seat and adapted tobe alternately moved into communication with the exhaust surface portsand a pressure supply port normally in line to line relation with thesurface supply ports to permit of the simultaneous supply of pressurethrough both surface supp y ports and to be moved in. one direction forcovering one surface supply port and opening the other surface supplyport; pipes having communication with the chambers and \xi ththeopposite ends of the cylinder; check ial ves arranged within thechambers and adapted to close the ports which lead to the surface supplyports; andmeans' to supply pressure to'the pressure supply port of themovable valve.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. LEWIS. Witnesses:

James L. CRAWFORD, C. L. PARKER.

